Foundation Since the restoration of the Society of Jesus in the early nineteenth-century, French-speaking Jesuits ministered to the
Franco-Ontarian population of Sudbury. In the 1960s, the Jesuits had to change their ministries. The creation of
Laurentian University in 1960 led to the French-speaking Jesuits in Sudbury to move away from higher education. They handed over
Sacred Heart College to the newly created university. The parish that they founded in 1883, Sainte-Anne-des-Pins, was handed over to the diocese. The parish was a local French-speaking cultural centre.
Construction Villa Loyola was built in 1962 by French-speaking Canadian Jesuits. It occupies an area of 12 acres on the southern shore of
Long Lake. It was originally conceived as a retreat house. It offers courses and retreats in
Ignatian spirituality based on the
Spiritual Exercises of Ignatius of Loyola. Retreats are for a weekend, or a week, or for the full 30 days. It also offers training for prayer guides and spiritual accompaniment.
Renovation In 1996, the centre was renovated and so that it can offer space for seminars and conferences as well as the original program of retreats. It is also a centre for
ecumenism and
interfaith dialogue. ==See also==